Car-axle lubricator



.2.Sh'ets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) H. P. WEST.

GAR AXLE LUBRIGATOR. No. 396,125. Patented Jan. 15, 1889.

- WIT NESS 1 INVENTDR: Zwam 4 /lwy .Z4/@v (No Model.) 2 sheetssheen 2.

. H. I. WEST. GAR' AXLE LUBRIGATOR.

No. 396,125. Patented-Jan.'15:1889.

1 .lllilll-'l WITNEESEE. FQ lNvENTnR:

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HENRY F. IVEST, OF GLOUCESTER CITY, NElV JERSEY.

CAR-AXLE- LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,125, dated January 15, 1889. l I Application filed April 10, 1888. Serial No.270,l90. (No model.)

the lubricant or oil from a reservoir in the car-axle box and distributing uniformly the same over the surface of the journal, and thereby dispensing` with all waste, wicking, or other analogous material heretofore packed into axle-boxes to cause lubrication of the journal to be effected by capillary attraction.

My invention consists in mounting on the journal of the axle one or more cylindriform devices, which is or are rotated thereby for lifting or elevating the lubricant or oil to allow of its discharge through diverging channels formed in a saddle suitably supported in position on the journal, and thereby causing the lubricant or oil to be distributed uniformly over the surface of the journal of the carwheel axle.

My invention further consists of certain details of construction and combinations of parts, to be hereinafter fully described.

The nature of my invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, :forming part hereof, wherein my invention has been illustrated in forms found practically eihcient, and in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section through a car-axle box with the lubricant contained in the bottom thereof and with my improved cylindriiform lifting device and saddle shown in application mounted on the journal. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line at of Fig. l. Fig. is a view in perspective, on a small scale, of one form of my improved saddle or journal-block, showing the two channels therein diverging from a point central at 011e end and terminating in the opposite end in the walls thereof. Fig. l is a longitudinal section through a car-axle box, showing `two of my improved cylindriform lifting devices in application and a slightly-modiiied form of saddle mounted on the journal. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the lines y y and nails, for instance,with oblique grooves formed .e ,a of Fig. 4f; and Fig. is a view in perspective, on a small scale, of said modified form of saddle or journal-block, showing the channels therein diverging from ai central point at each end to a point central to the bottom of' the saddle or block.

Referring to the drawings for a further dcscription of my invention, A is a car-axle box, of any suitable construction.

B is a lid or cover hinged to the top plate of the box, this lid B being provided with a catch, b, or other device, cast with the lid or cover for raising the same to admit the lubricant or oil into the reservoir D in the bottom of the box.

E is the journal of the axle, having a shoulder or rim, e, on its front extremity, whereon is mounted the lubricant-lifting device, to be hereinafter fully described.

H is a saddle or journal-block, made of brass or other suitable material, with a rear shoulder or projection, 713. The bottom of this block or saddle is hollowed out or formed concave, and in the surface thereof are formed t two diverging channels, 7L and h', which eX- tend from end to end of the block, as shown in Fig. 3. The use of a saddle provided with such diverging channels 7L and h has this important advantage, that the oil or lubricant from the well beneath, elevated by means of the lifting and discharging device K, is not only deposited onto the journal E, but it is also uniformly distributed through the channels of the saddle over the entire surface thereof, and the heating up of the same due to frictional contact of the saddle therewith entirely avoided. In the use of saddles as heretofore constructed-mounted on jourthcrein-it is only possible to partially lubricate the same, and hence as the solid portions of such saddles are in frictional contact with the journal the constant heating up of the same has been a natural consequence simply because of the fact that the lubricant was not uniformly distributed over the surface thereof, as is the case in the use of my improved saddle, as shown and described. This saddle H is mounted on the journal E, and held in position thereon by means of a bearing-plate, I, which engages with the shoulder or projec- IOO tion 713 of the saddle and the projection (L ot' the top plate, a', of the axle-box A, thereby preventing all lateral wabbling of the saddle.

On the shoulder or annular` rim c of the journal E mounted a cylindriform lubricant lifting and discharging device, K, which is held to'placc thereon by means of one or more set-screws, l. This lit'ting and diseharging device K, made et' cast-iron or other suit able material, consists ot' a hollow cylinder, 71', with a central depression or recess, 7s', which permits of the mountin of the device readily onto the shoulder e of the journal, as shown, for instance, in Fig. l, and the securing ol the same in position thereon b v meansotl scia screws \Vithin the hollow cylinder preferably formed integral therewith, are curved channels lf2 and 7:5), which are separated from each other by partitimi-walls 7x4. ferential surface or wall of this hollow eylin der are provided apertures or inlets if, which are arranged so that the lubricant or oil forced in through these inlets will be carried upward by the rotation of the device by the axle through the channelslrf2 or 7J", and discharged through apertures or outlets k in the opposite surface of the hollow cylinder 7l: k at the top et' the journal into and through the diverging channels 72 and 71. in the saddle or journal-block, and thereby distributed uniformly over the surface oi' the journal.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that the lifting and discharging device K is constructed so that the lubricant carried up ward and discharged into the channeled saddle or block lI, and distributed therethrough uniformly over the surface ot' the journal of the axle, may perform its t'unctions in either direct-ion oi' rotation ol' the axle which actu ates said device.

lith special reference, now, to lfig. which illustrates a modified arrangement of my invention, A is the axle-box, and B the lid or cover hinged to the top plate oi' the box, this lid or cover being provided with aI catch or other suitable device, l), cast therewith, for permitting' of the elevation of said lid to cause the lubricant or oil to be charged into the reservoir D in the bottom of the box A.

E is t-he journal with a shoulder or rim, c, on its front extremity.

ll is the saddle or journal-block, made of brass or other suitable material, with a rear shoulder or projection, 7L, the central portion of this block or saddle being hollowed out oir formed concave, and in the surface thereof channels 7l and h are formed, which diverge in opposite directions from a central point at each extremity to a central point in the sides or surfaces ot' the concave portion of the block, whereby the oil or lubricant received at each end from the lubricant lifting and discharging devices may be distributed uniformly over the surface ot' the journal, as will be presently more particularly explained. This sad- (lle H .is mounted on the journal l1, and held ln the cireumiin position thereon by means ot' a bearingplate, l, which engages with the Ishoulder or projection Il. of the saddle, and the projeci tion a of the top plate, a', oi' the axle-box. A, thereby preventing any wabbling laterally or otherwise ot the saddle while in position. 0n y the shmihler or annular rim e ot' the journal l E is loosely mounted, in this instance, the cylindriform lifting and discharging device K, constructed in the lnannerhereinbefore fully 'describedl lhis device, loosely mounted on the rim e of the journal E, has two or more openings l'ormed in the surface therei'it' for l permitting oi" the insertion ot' bolts.

Secured into the head of the journal in any suitable manner are two or more bolts, l, having one or both extremities thereof threaded, and these bolts, passed through said openings in the device lx', have mounted thereon coiled or helical springs l and nuts l2, whereby the device K may be always kept in proper position snugly up against the end extremity of the channeled saddle li, with the avoidance of all squeaking, but principally compensating for all wear that may take place between the device and the saddle by reason of the cont-act of one with the other.

On the axle of the journal E is mounted a similar lubricant lifting and discharging device, K, with this exception, that instead of a central recess or depression, 1, being formed therein an annular opening extends through the hollow cylindriforin device K, as shown in Fig. t, and which device, loosely mounted on the axle, isheld in position up against the end extremity ot' the saddle Il by means of a collar, nl, mounted on said axle, and held rigidly thereon by means of tightening-screws n. Into the surface ot' the collar m are secured two or more bolts, o, having coiled around them springs o', the opposite Vfree extremities of which bolts play freely in openings provided in the surface of the cylindriform device K, whereby it is rendered possible to readily adjust the position of said device K so that it will always rest snugly up against the end extremity ot' the saddle H, for the per- Vformance ot' its functions of lifting the lubricant bythe rotation of the axle and discharging t-he same through the channels of the saddle, and thereby uniformly luln'icatingor oiling the journal ot' the axle.

I am aware that various means have heretofore been used Afor effecting the lubrication of car-axle journals, and therefore I do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, devices for so doing, but simply the devices and means constructed, arranged, and operating in the manner hereinbelore explained.

Having thus described the nature and objects ot' my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The lubricant liiltin and discharging deviceK, in combination with the journal E of the axle, arranged as described, and for the purposes set forth.

'2. The lubricant lifting and d ischarging de roo IIO

vice II, in combination with the journal E of the axle and the saddle H, having diverging channels formed in the body thereof, all arranged as described, and for the purposes set forth. I

3. In a oar-axle box, the combination, with the journal E, of the axle and the lubricant lifting` and discharging device K, mounted on said journal, means, as described, for holding,` the same in position thereon, and the saddle H, provided with diverging channels in the body thereof, whereby the lubricant elevated by said device may be uniformly distributed over the surface of the journal, all arranged as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a car-axle box, the combination of the journal E of the axle, the lubricant lifting and discharging` devices K, mounted on said journal, means, as described, for adjustably maintaining,` said devices in position on said journal, and the saddle H, having diverging` channels in the body thereof, whereby the lubricant lifted by said devices may bedis-` HENRY F. WEST.

Wi tn esses:

HERMANN BORMANN, THOMAS M. SMITH. 

